New California Notary Certificates

Mandatory warning language required for powers of attorney, deeds, and many other legal documents.

Effective January 1, 2015, the following language must appear at the top of a California notary certificate:

"A notary public or other officer completing this certificate verifies only the identity of the individual who signed the document to which this certificate is attached, and not the truthfulness, accuracy, or validity of that document."

The notice must be in an enclosed box, appear at the top of the certificate and easy to read. (California Civil Code § § 1189 and 8202.)